Iwa applies art of communications<\/p>\n
By I. Christianto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo), one of
\nthe country's three Global System for Mobile communication (GSM)
\ntelecommunications providers, has progressed rapidly since its
\ninception four years ago.<\/p>\n
Satelindo's rapid success cannot be separated from the ability
\nof its president, Iwa Sewaka, to apply the \"art of
\ncommunications\" in drafting business strategies and crafting the
\ncompany's management.<\/p>\n
Iwa, who has directed the private telecommunications firm
\nsince it was formed in January 1993, said the art of
\ncommunications was the key to the company's success.<\/p>\n
Satelindo, which celebrated its fourth anniversary on
\nWednesday, is planning to float shares on the Jakarta Stock
\nExchange in 1998; a rare action for a young firm.<\/p>\n
Iwa said he had tried to adapt the art of communications in
\ndiscussions with the company's commissioners, shareholders and
\nstaff.<\/p>\n
\"You have to converse horizontally and vertically and the
\nconversation must be appropriate with your lower staff, counter
\ncolleagues and those of higher position,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that \"building trust\" was also important in a working
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
Iwa, born May 12, 1942, is married to Asih Bandini and has
\nthree sons and a grandson. But he still manages to work almost 20
\nhours a day.<\/p>\n
Larger than most Indonesians, this softly spoken man is gentle
\nand humorous.<\/p>\n
\"We have to create jobs through our thinking and ideas. We
\nhave to create concepts. We can't wait for them from outside,\"
\nIwa said on his work philosophy.<\/p>\n
Before joining Satelindo, he worked for state-owned insurance
\nfirm PT Jasindo, state-owned PT Danareksa and state-owned
\ndomestic telecommunications firm PT Telkom.<\/p>\n
\"Building Satelindo from the beginning is meaningful to me,
\nhow we have increased our public service through rapidly
\nimproving technology which, one day, can become our rival.\"<\/p>\n
On his ambitions and plans, Iwa, who graduated from Jakarta's
\nUniversity of Indonesia in 1967, said he wanted to go \"back to
\nbasics\". He said: \"I want to work as an accountant, just like my
\nschool background.\"<\/p>\n
Iwa did not give much thought to failure or have any regrets.<\/p>\n
\"By mastering the art of communications there will not be any
\nunsolved problems.\"<\/p>\n
He said he usually wanted a second opinion before making an
\nimportant decision. \"I don't want to make any subjective
\njudgments. I have to make a decision with a basis, not a baseless
\ndecision.\"<\/p>\n
With just 50 employees when it began in 1993, Satelindo now
\nhas now about 750 staff, putting it among the leading
\ntelecommunications players in Asia.<\/p>\n
Satelindo secured loan guarantees last year worth more than
\n$150 million from international banks for the construction and
\nlaunch of its telecommunications satellites.<\/p>\n
Iwa said the loan guarantees would help Satelindo's plan to
\nlist some of its shares on the Jakarta Stock Exchange by 1998.<\/p>\n
But he refused to disclose details on the planned float or the
\ncompany's financial structure.<\/p>\n
Satelindo last year reported that it expected Rp 584.5 billion
\nin revenue in 1996 from its satellite, international telephone
\nand digital cellular services.<\/p>\n
The company estimated a Rp 55 billion net profit for 1996: Rp
\n30.35 billion was expected from cellular telephone services, Rp
\n20.2 billion from satellite transponder leasing and Rp 4.45
\nbillion from international telecommunications services.<\/p>\n
The government has licensed Satelindo to run satellite
\ntelecommunications services. It owns and operates Palapa C-1 and
\nC-2 satellites.<\/p>\n
The company, which was licensed in 1994 to use a Global System
\nfor Mobile Communications (GSM) system, aims to get 850,000 GSM
\nsubscribers by 1998.<\/p>\n
PT Telkomsel and PT Excelcomindo also offer GSM cellular
\nsystems in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The company gained $586 million in 1995 when DeTeMobil of
\nGermany acquired 25 percent of its shares. Satelindo is now 22.5
\npercent owned by state-owned domestic telecommunications company
\nPT Telkom, 7.5 percent by state-owned international
\ntelecommunications company PT Indosat, 25 percent by DeTeMobil
\nand 45 percent by PT Bimagraha Telekomindo.<\/p>\n
Bimagraha is majority owned by the Artha Graha Group, which is
\ncontrolled by businessman Tomy Winata and Bambang Trihatmodjo's
\nBimantara Group.<\/p>\n
Iwa said that Satelindo's assets were estimated at Rp 2.7
\ntrillion this year and would be worth Rp 3.6 trillion by 1998
\nwhen the company floats.<\/p>\n
Iwa said that Satelindo's was planning to get involved in
\nseveral overseas telecommunications projects.<\/p>\n
He said that he would court the projects offering the biggest
\nbenefits to Satelindo. \"It was Satelindo's long-term plan to
\nparticipate in several international telecommunication projects.
\n\"We may set up joint ventures, joint operations or other forms of
\npartnership.\"<\/p>\n
Satelindo believes that it can still lead the digital cellular
\nrace, backed by qualified human resources and a strong financial
\nstructure.<\/p>\n
When the company launched its customer care center on Jl.
\nSudirman, Iwa said he wanted Satelindo to be a customer driven
\nfirm especially for GSM services.<\/p>\n
Satelindo plans to invest Rp 900 billion this year mainly to
\nexpand its GSM mobile cellular and satellite services.<\/p>\n
Iwa said that Satelindo would spend Rp 700 billion of this
\nexpanding its cellular service.<\/p>\n
\"We will focus on the GSM service because we have already
\nlaunched two satellites to support the company's satellite
\ntransponder leasing service,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Satelindo will offer GSM services in the country's 27
\nprovinces from next March. The company's 200,000 subscribers
\nshould grow to about 500,000 by the end of this year.<\/p>\n
The company plans to install at least 1,000 radio base
\nstations across the country by the end of 1997.<\/p>\n
Satelindo has signed roaming agreements with 28 GSM operators
\nin 19 foreign countries, allowing its subscribers to use their
\ncellular phones when visiting these nations.<\/p>\n
The company's GSM service made Rp 360 billion in revenue last
\nyear, representing 60 percent of its total revenue. Satelindo
\nexpects to double its revenue from GSM this year.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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